I agree. Well put, Richard.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Now hopefully I have got this right. Just in case:

First and foremost get him evaluated by a ***professional***. Work on socializing him with the muzzle on. Reward the good behavior, and ignore the bad. (for now) Later, add the prong collar to emphasize what I want from him. (a fair correction). I will work on trying to establish an alpha position, and to DE-cling him. The barking I don't have a problem with, my friend (the one he bit), baby-sits him when I'm away, and when he is inside, he doesn't bark.

You are right I don't have much training experience, I've only trained 3 dogs(Dimitri will be my 4). And never fully trained them for anything, mostly just the basics. After all I'm only 19, and I'm sure I'll make more mistakes. Hopefully you guys will be there to help me see and correct those mistakes.

I don't think I missed anything, but let me know if I did. Tomorrow I'll get some printer ink, and print all the info out. Thanks all!

P.S.: Conner - Dimitri was outside because of an allergy in my mothers house. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nice thread guys. Good solid advise. I wish we had the same in the protection threads. I will post one on Monday to stir things up a bit.

Mary, yes that is a good start. Part of establishing yourself as a leader (I prefer this term over "Alpha" or "Dominant", but I won't go into that) is the relationship you have with your dog. One thing that I do with my "clingy" mixed breed, is I don't overdo the affection. I taught her that if she wants my attention, she is to sit, and when she sits, I simply give her a quick pat on the head, and that is all.

She is the kind of dog who will jump up and demand to be stroked continuously if you let her. She'll actually paw at your hands to get you to keep petting. I haven't been able to *change* her, per se, but I have taught her that I will snuggle with her when *I* want to, and the moment she starts to demand, the attention is over and she is kicked off the couch. Basically, she's allowed up to be petted by invitation only. When she demands, she is rebuffed. This has taught her so much about the importance of pleasing me, and has helped me to gain her voluntary cooperation. I'm not a person she can demand anything from, I am a person that she must please in order to receive my approval. She is much more obedient and attentive to me since I started treating her this way.

I don't treat both of my dogs this way. My other dog is less dominant, and he is allowed to sleep on my bed (he's what's known as a "cupcake"). The mix sleeps under the bed. She thrives better on a more defined leader/follower relationship because she is dominant in personality. The less dominant dog doesn't care so much about rank, so I can "break the rules" with him more without ruining my leadership position. He gets more affection and more priveleges because of it, because I know it won't go to his head.

It sounds to me like Dimitri would probably benefit from a well-defined leader/follower relationship with you.